Flower Thief Stole Sousee Beach Massacre Tribute

A heartless thief stole a floral tribute left by relatives of a couple murdered in the Sousee beach massacre - then complained about having to pay a fine for taking the flowers, which he hoped would brighten up his room.

Iranian asylum-seeker Shayan Moradisohi, 31, reached over the police cordon outside West London Coroner's Court and grabbed flowers left in memory of John Stoker, 74, and his wife Janet Stoker, 63.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Coroner's Court today to one count of theft of flowers from the Stoker family in Bagleys Lane, Fulham on July 6 and was fined £20, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay a £180 court charge and £20 victim surcharge.

The Stoker's both suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the pelvis while sunbathing in Sousse, Tunisia on June 26.

A total of thirty-eight people were killed and inquests into the thirty UK fatalities, including the Stoker's, were opened at West london Coroner's Court on July 6.

The bodies of the victims were lying in Fulham Mortuary, where the floral tributes were laid.

Prosecutor Mr. Kevin Christie told the court: "Police were on duty in a cordon at Fulham Mortuary in aid of victims of the Tunisian massacre.

"PC Hunt saw the gentleman before you reach over into the police cordon, crossing a police line, and took a bunch of flowers that were part of the memorial to the victim's.

"PC Hunt recognised Mr Moradisohi from his distinctive clothing and he did not have any flowers and then lent over and took the flowers.

John & Janet Stocker

"He followed him for several metres, before stopping him and when asked why he took the flowers he said they were his.

"He stated he took the flowers to put them in his room.

"He fully admitted taking the flowers and said he was sorry for what he did, saying he did not know where he was or what the flowers were for."

His lawyer Mr. Declan Adams said: "There's an aggravating feature here because of the tragedy that happened in Tunisia.

"He came to the UK as an asylum seeker and suffers from trauma and depression. He says he lives in a hostel.

"As a consequence he is not abreast of current affairs and was not aware of what a Coroner's Court was and did not realise the sensitivity of his actions.

"He took the flowers because he was depressed and wanted to brighten up his room.

"He wishes to extend his apologies to the victims and extend his sympathies. If he was aware he certainly would not have taken the flowers from that area.

"The value of the flowers is low and they were recovered. The main issue here is the sensitivity."

Moradisohi complained: "Why should I pay? I took a bunch of flowers. I don't wanna pay.

"I'm sick. i have a mental problem. They tortured me, they gave me poison. They made me disabled."

Magistrate Mrs Julie Baldwin told him: "This could have been more difficult for you and that full payment remains. We understand the financial pressures you are under."  

The Stoker's have five children and ten grandchildren and retired printer John, originally from Peckham and Janet, originally from Fulham, where she grew up with two brothers, had settled in Crawley.

The inquests were opened by HM Senior Coroner for West London Chinyere Inyama and adjourned.

The couple were shot by Tunisian engineering student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, who was fatally wounded by police marksmen shortly afterwards.